By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Guaranteed first seed in the Playoffs of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Real Madrid wrapped up the Regular Season with an away win in a low-scoring affair versus Zalgiris.
Connecting a two-pointer from just inside the corner, Gabriel Deck made the difference in a 64-62 victory in Zalgirio Arena on Thursday.
Going to 27-7 with a fourth straight win on the road at the bottom of the 34-game double-legged round-robin schedule of the Regular Season, Chus Mateo’s side awaits dust around the eighth seed to settle via the Play-Ins, determining the opponent in the Quarterfinals.
Dzanan Musa netted a game-high 17 points behind 6/11 field goals, including a three-pointer to break a tie at 59-59 with 1:21 left in the fourth quarter. A response from Kevarrius Hayes knotting the teams at 62-62 was met by Deck’s game-winner with 0.3 seconds on the clock.
“I don’t know how he hit that shot. But Gaby is like that,” Bosnian Musa praised his teammate’s game-winning effort, “He is a hard worker and deserves the credit for that shot.”
Deck ended up with six points and pulled down four rebounds. A recent minor knee injury forced fellow Argentine Facundo Campazzo to the sidelines. Down to 11 players suiting up, Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Rodriguez did not follow the team to Kaunas.
“More than victory or defeat, we wanted to get good feelings. We have two more games in front of us in the ACB. These two games are important for us, but the most important thing is to be focused on the Playoffs,” Mateo referred to the next stage of the continental campaign, “It will be a very tough opponent, for sure.”
Mario Hezonja tallied ten of his 16 points over the last ten minutes. “This is a great team although they did not make the Playoffs. You have to respect them for their history and their season,” stressed the 29-year-old Croatian forward on a narrow win against Zalgiris.
“If Real Madrid has to take that shot, with Gabriel Deck’s turnaround shot from the corner, to win the game here, it means that we played a great game,” mentioned losing head coach Andrea Trinchieri.
Previously knocked out of postseason contention, his side finished with a 14-20 W-L tally. Keenan Evans and Brady Manek shared a team-high 14 points in an eighth loss across 17 home showings.
Tomas Dimsa was ruled out for the Round 34 contest after suffering an ankle injury in practice, the team announced shortly before tipoff. Arnas Butkevicius (ankle) and Karolis Lukosiunas (back) were already on the injury list.
Next challenges
Carrying a 23-5 W-L tally and tied for first in Spain’s Liga Endesa, the recently crowned Copa del Rey champions return to domestic action against Joventut Badalona in WiZink Center on Sunday. Focusing on the bottom end of Lithuania’s Betsafe LKL and retaining the lead in the Regular Season, Zalgiris continues the 2023-24 campaign with a home game versus rival Rytas on Sunday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net